Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines
Exhibited Animals
– Ratite
Public consultation document
March 2014
Australian Ministers responsible for Primary Industries
Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines
Exhibited Animals - Ratite
Published by the NSW Department of Primary Industries
Title: Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines. Exhibited Animals – Ratite – Public
consultation document
First published March 2014
More information
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/animal-welfare/exhibit/standards-and-guidelines
www.australiananimalwelfare.com.au
www.zooaquarium.org.au/
www.mincos.gov.au
Acknowledgments
Writing Group for the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines – Exhibited Animals
Exhibited Animals Expert Consultation Forum participants
Zoo and Aquarium Association
RSPCA Australia
Animals Australia
Department of Agriculture – Australia (through the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy)
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Queensland
Animal Welfare Committee
AusAWAC
Jobtrack 12709R
© State of New South Wales through the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services, 2014. You may
copy, distribute and otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose, provided that you attribute the NSW Department of
Primary Industries as the owner.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (March
2014). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely
is up to date and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of the Department of Primary Industries or the user’s
independent adviser.
Public consultation document – March 2014
Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines
Public consultation document – March 2014
Exhibited Animals - Ratite
Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines
Exhibited Animals - Ratite
Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................................... 5
Taxon preface .................................................................................................. 7
Definitions ........................................................................................................ 8
1
Responsibilities ......................................................................................... 9
2
Security ................................................................................................... 10
3
Enclosures .............................................................................................. 11
4
Dietary and water requirements .............................................................. 13
5
Health and wellbeing .............................................................................. 14
6
Reproductive management ..................................................................... 15
7
Euthanasia .............................................................................................. 16
8
Capture and restraint .............................................................................. 17
9
Training ................................................................................................... 18
10
Interactive programs ............................................................................ 19
11
Transportation ...................................................................................... 20
12
Animal identification and records ......................................................... 21
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Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines
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Introduction
Purpose
The principal purpose of this document is to describe standards and guidelines that ensure the
welfare and security of ratites used for exhibition purposes.
This document promotes measures and conditions that, if implemented, would see exhibited
ratites kept to the same standard throughout Australia.
The document considers a broad range of operational issues facing facilities that keep ratites for
exhibition purposes. Failure to address these issues could result in adverse animal welfare and
security outcomes.
Scope
These standards and guidelines apply to those people and industries responsible for the care
and management of:
• ratites kept for exhibition purposes at facilities, i.e. for display, conservation, education
and entertainment;
• ratites during their temporary removal from a facility; and
• ratites during their transport to or from a facility.
These standards and guidelines do not apply to:
•
wild animals (i.e. free-living and not confined to a facility by an enclosure, a leash or by
management practices);
•
the keeping of animals solely for the purposes of feeding to other animals at the facility;
•
feeding of wild animals;
•
animals kept for animal competitions, horse racing and sporting events, wildlife farming
and domestic animal farming;
•
wildlife rehabilitation of animals that are not displayed to the public at the facility;
• animals at pet shops; or
• circuses and mobile exhibitors.
These standards and guidelines should be considered in conjunction with other requirements for
animals kept for exhibition purposes, and related Commonwealth, state and territory legislation
for:
• animal welfare;
• exhibiting animals;
• pest control; and
• nature conservation.
Where legislation requires a higher standard than these standards, the higher standard will apply.
Interpretation
•
Objective – the intended outcome(s) of a section of the standards and guidelines.
•
Standards – the acceptable animal welfare and security requirements designated in
this document. They are requirements that must be met under law with respect to
animals kept for exhibition purposes.
The standards are intended to be clear, essential and verifiable statements. However,
not all issues are able to be well defined by scientific research or are able to be
quantified. Standards use the word “must”. Non-compliance with one or more
standards will constitute an offence under law.
They are presented in a box and are numbered consecutively with the prefix ‘S’.
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•
Notes – provide background and guidance on interpreting the standards and
guidelines.
•
Guidelines - complement the standards by providing advice and/or recommendations to
achieve desirable animal welfare and security outcomes. Non-compliance with
guidelines does not constitute an offence under law.
They are numbered consecutively with the prefix ‘G’.
Document organisation
These taxon standards contain standards and guidelines that apply to the keeping of a
specific animal group for exhibition purposes at facilities. They are additional to the standards
and guidelines in the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines. Exhibited Animals
– General which apply to all animals kept for exhibition purposes at facilities.
•
Taxon standards must always be read in conjunction with the Australian Animal
Welfare Standards and Guidelines. Exhibited Animals – General.
The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines. Exhibited Animals – General
contain the following sections:
• Introduction;
• Definitions;
• Responsibilities;
• Security;
• Enclosures;
• Dietary and water requirements;
• Health and wellbeing;
• Reproductive management;
• Euthanasia;
• Capture and restraint;
• Training;
• Interactive programs;
• Transportation; and
• Animal identification and records.
The same section headings are used in these taxon standards. An additional taxon preface
section follows this Introduction. Where a section of these taxon standards does not include
any standards or guidelines that are additional to those in the Australian Animal Welfare
Standards and Guidelines. Exhibited Animals – General, the section includes the following
statement: ‘This section has been deliberately left blank’.
Definitions are given in the Definitions section of this document. These definitions are
additional to those in Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines. Exhibited Animals
– General that also apply to these taxon standards unless otherwise stated. Defined words in
this document are italicised.
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Taxon preface
Ratites
The Order Struthioniformes includes five Families:
•
Apterygidae (kiwis) – five species (Apteryx spp.);
•
Casuariidae (cassowaries) – three species (Casuarius spp.);
•
Dromaiidae (emus) – one species (Dromaius novaehollandiae spp.);
•
Rheidae (rheas) – two species (Pterocnemia pennata and Rhea americana)
•
Struthionidae (ostrich) – one species (Struthio camelus).
However, as no kiwis are currently maintained in Australian zoological collections, kiwis are
not within the scope of this document. This taxon standard relates only to cassowaries, emus,
rheas and ostriches.
The name ‘Ratite’ comes from the large plate-like breast bone which is thought to resemble
the shape of a raft. The lack of a prominent keel for deep muscle attachment and poorly
developed wings compared to body size prevent the ratites from flying. They compensate for
lack of flight by having large powerful legs and can run quickly.
Emus are endemic to Australia and can be found in all habitats on the mainland except
rainforest. Three species of cassowary occur in Papua and New Guinea, with the distribution
of one subspecies of the southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii) extending to
the rainforests of tropical northern Queensland. Emus tend to be gregarious and partly
nomadic, while the southern cassowary is a solitary animal and is territorial over an extensive
home range.
The ostrich inhabits open and arid plains over most of Africa. It is gregarious and often forms
small groups consisting of a single male with several females. Rheas are found in South
America and have a loosely cohesive social structure. Both the ostrich and rhea have
relatively well developed wings which they use in courtship and aggressive displays.
Diets of ratites vary from the primary grazing/browsing habits of ostriches (eating grass,
leaves of shrubs and trees, succulents, seeds and berries), through the more omnivorous
emus’ opportunistic selection (including high quality green plant material, seed heads, berries,
ripening fruit and insects), to the predominantly frugivorous cassowaries (which will also eat
fungi, insects, frogs and other small animals).
Ratites can become defensive during the breeding season. In cassowaries, emus and rheas,
the male incubates the eggs and cares solely for the young, while ostriches share this
responsibility.
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Definitions
Capture myopathy: a syndrome of complex primary and secondary pathological changes in
many organs, particularly in skeletal and cardiac muscle, which may:
i. be precipitated by prolonged muscular exertion, e.g. pursuit by predators or
during capture and restraint;
ii. sometimes occur as a result of fear and anxiety without overt physical activity;
e.g. during close confinement or placement in an unfamiliar environment; and
iii. cause acute death or lead to chronic debility.
Ratite: cassowary, emu, ostrich and rhea.
Wallow: a depression, pool or pit consisting of water, snow, mud, dust, or the like, in which
animals can roll or lie.
All Definitions cover the singular, plural and all variations of the word.
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Responsibilities
Objective
Operators and staff understand their responsibilities and collectively manage the facility to
ensure the health, welfare, safety and security of animals.
General
Standards
S1.1
All standards in Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines. Exhibited
Animals – General relating to dangerous animals apply to adult cassowaries and
male ostriches unless assessed as otherwise by a proficient keeper.
Guidelines
G1.1
A ratite that displays aggressive behaviours towards humans should be considered
a dangerous animal.
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Security
Objective
Animals are held securely to ensure their welfare and prevent pest establishment. Access by
unauthorised persons and escape of animals is prevented.
This section has been deliberately left blank.
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Enclosures
Objective
Enclosures are designed, constructed and maintained to ensure the welfare, safety and security
of animals.
General
Standards
S3.1
The operator must ensure ratites are assessed by a proficient keeper as having a
suitable temperament prior to being housed in a walk-through enclosure.
S3.2
The operator must ensure a walk-through enclosure housing ratites provides at least
one visitor exclusion area where animals are able to withdraw from visitor contact.
The visitor exclusion area must be a minimum of 25% of the minimum required
enclosure floor area contained in standards 3.7.
S3.3
Unless otherwise approved by the relevant government authority, the operator must
ensure enclosures have a fence of at least the following height:
i. ostriches and cassowaries – 1800 mm;
ii. emus – 1500 mm;
iii. rheas – 1200 mm.
Guidelines
G3.1
Walk-through enclosures should be monitored to prevent inappropriate behaviour by
visitors or ratites.
Gates and Doors
Guidelines
G3.2
Gates to walk-through enclosures housing ratites should be fitted with self-closing
devices.
G3.3
Walk-through enclosures housing ratites should have a double gate entry system to
minimise the risk of escape.
Enclosure Furniture
Standards
S3.4
The operator must ensure ratite enclosures include a species appropriate wallow.
S3.5
The operator must ensure that cassowaries are provided with shade.
Guidelines
G3.4
Enclosures housing cassowaries should contain trees and shrubs.
G3.5
Provision of wallowing opportunities may include:
i.
dust baths;
ii.
shallow water ponds; and
iii.
mud pools.
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Spatial Requirements
Standards
S3.6
The operator must ensure that the minimum enclosure floor area for adult ratites is:
i. ostriches – 400 square metres for up to two specimens, plus 150 square
metres for each additional adult; and
ii. emus, cassowaries and rheas – 200 square metres for a single specimen, plus
100 square metres for each additional adult.
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Dietary and water requirements
Objective
Animals are provided food and water of an appropriate quality and quantity to maximise their
health and wellbeing.
Food
Guidelines
G4.1
Ratite diets should contain or be supplemented with adequate amounts and
appropriate ratios of calcium and phosphorous (for skeletal growth and egg
development) and vitamins.
Water
Standards
S4.1
The operator must ensure ratite enclosures provide a source of drinking water in
addition to the wallow.
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Health and wellbeing
Objective
The health and wellbeing of animals is maximised, and disease and disease transmission is
prevented.
General
Guidelines
G5.1
Juvenile ratites should be encouraged to exercise daily.
Enrichment
Guidelines
G5.2
Enrichment for ratites includes:
i. age and species appropriate opportunities for social interaction with
conspecifics;
ii. foraging and grazing opportunities; and
iii. scatter feeds.
Quarantine
Standards
S5.1
The operator must ensure newly acquired ratites undergo a minimum 30 day period
of quarantine unless advised otherwise by a veterinarian.
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Reproductive management
Objective
Animal breeding is managed to maintain the genetic integrity, sustainability and/or diversity of
the species and to prevent the production of unplanned surplus animals.
Standards
S6.1
The operator must ensure that written procedures are developed, maintained and
implemented for the collection of eggs.
S6.2
The operator must not display or keep for display more than 20 individual emus at
any one time unless specifically granted an exemption in writing by the relevant
government authority.
Guidelines
G6.1
Where ratites are nesting close to a fence in public viewing areas, visitors should
be excluded from the area and/or visual barriers should be erected to reduce
disturbance to the animals.
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Euthanasia
Objective
If an animal is to be killed, it is done humanely.
Guidelines
G7.1
The recommended method of euthanasia for ratites is barbiturate overdose.
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Capture and restraint
Objective
Animals are captured and restrained in a manner that ensures animal safety and minimises
negative impacts on the animal.
Standards
S8.1
The operator must ensure a proficient keeper is present during, and supervises the
capture and restraint of an adult ratite.
S8.2
The operator must ensure written procedures for capture and restraint of ratites deal
with minimising the risk of capture myopathy.
Guidelines
G8.1
Acceptable methods of ratite capture and restraint may include the use of:
i. capture bags, and/or hoods;
ii. deep hoop nets;
iii. a race made of hessian or similar material; and
iv. pole syringe or dart administration of an appropriate sedative or anaesthetic
agent by or under the direction of a veterinarian.
G8.1
Manual restraint usually involves approaching the bird from behind and applying
enough downward pressure to cause the bird to sit with both legs folded directly
underneath.
G8.2
During manual restraint ratites should be sternally recumbent to minimise the risk of
injury to the animal.
G8.3
The potential for ratites to cause serious injury to themselves by kicking or jumping
and flailing their legs should be considered during capture and restraint procedures.
G8.4
While capturing ratites, shields or herding boards should be readily available.
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Training
Objective
Animal training is humane and beneficial to the animal’s health, safety, behavioural and
management needs.
This section has been deliberately left blank.
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10 Interactive programs
Objective
Animal welfare, safety and security are maintained during interactive programs so that people
have a positive experience and have an enhanced appreciation of animals.
This section has been deliberately left blank.
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11 Transportation
Objective
Animal welfare, safety and security are maintained during transport.
Guidelines
G11.1
Prior to the journey ratites should be conditioned to accept the confinement of
transport.
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12 Animal identification and records
Objective
Animals are identified by standardised means and have a detailed written history.
Animal Identification
Standards
S12.1
Ratites younger than 3 months of age are exempt from the requirement to have
individual permanent identification.
Guidelines
G12.1
A passive integrated transponder (PIT) is the recommended form of individual
permanent identification for ratites.
G12.2
The standard location for PIT insertion in ratites is:
i. adults – lateral left neck; and
ii. chicks – the pipping muscle located on the anterodorsal portion of the neck.
Records
Guidelines
G12.3
Records kept for ratites used in demonstrations and interactive programs should
include:
i. interactive handling rotation schedule;
ii. feeding; and
iii. behavioural issues.
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